Clamping socket and support for cameras.



- Patented Oct. 2,1900.

6. w. HALL. CLAMPING SOCKET AND' SUPPORT FOR CAMERAS.

(Apphcation filed Jan. 19, 1900.

(No Model.)

v gvwewcoz 44am Mm- LITHQ, WASHIN NIT'ED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

GEORGE HALL, OF HERMON, MAINE.

CLAMPINGSQCKET AND SUPPORT FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,911, dated October2, 1900. Application filed January 19, 1900. Serial No. 2,078- (Nomodel.)

1'0 QI/ZZZ/UhOTYI/it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HALL, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Hermon, Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clamping Sockets and Supports for Cameras, 620., ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an adjustable socket and holder applicable totripods and similar stands and adapted to support a camera or otherinstrument in vertical or in clined position or at any angle relativelyto the support.

The object of the invention is to produce a strong and desirable devicewhereby a camera or other instrument can be'rotated or adjusted at anyangle within the range of the holder and there firmly held by a simplelever movement; and the invention consists in the construction andcombination of the various parts.

Figure 1 is a plan and partial section of the ball and socket andholder, the clamping jaws r levers being spread away from the ball. Fig.2 is a similar plan of the instrument,showing the jaws clamped on theball. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4is a partial section and partial elevation of a modification, showing aportion of the base of the camera and upper end of tripod. Fig. 5 is atop plan of the modification of Fig. 4, omitting camera and tripod. Fig.6 is a plan of a coupling which may be substituted for the screw forattachment to base of camera.

A yoke or base-piece 1 is to be attached to the stand or tripod in anyusual way. This base-piece has arms 2 2, which are riveted, as at 4, orotherwise held to the socket-ring 3. The base piece or yoke forms asocket or rest for a ball 10, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Beneaththe socket-ring 3 are two jaws. One of these jaws, as 5, is rigid withthe socket-ring, being attached by pins, rivets, or other devices orbeing cast or struck up integral with the socket-ring. The other jaw 6is pivoted at 7 to the socket-ring, so.

that its free end may swing toward or from the jaw 5. One of the jawshas a notch, as 8, therein at the edge which is toward the other jaw.The opposing jaw has a projecby the operation of cam-lever 15.

,to the head 21.

tion, as 9, facing toward the notch in the oppo'site jaw. In Figs. 4 and5 this is a screw 90. The ball 10 is'constructed to enter the socket orspace between the holding-jaws. Preferably the ball will pass below itscenter and being grasped by the turning of jaw 6 toward jaw 5 will bethus held and secured against escape. Ball 10 has a stem 11, to whichthe camera 12 or otherarticle may be attached. The free end ofjaw 6 isswung toward jaw 5 This lever is, pivoted at 16 to movable jaw 6, and aboss or pin 17 on jaw 5 enters a snail or cam slot 18 in said lever 15.As this snail-cam is eccentric to the pivot of lever 15, the turning ofsaid lever on its pivot will swing the free end of the pivoted jawtoward or from the fixed jaw, thus in closing causing the jaws to biteball 10 with force enough to hold said ball in any adjusted position.The cam engagement of the lever with the boss on jaw 5 serves to lockthe jaws in any position to which they may be adjusted by the swing ofsaid lever. The lever preferably swings toward the ring or socket, so asto lie close alongside the samewhen the ball is fastened in anyposition.

The camera or other instrument may be attached to the stem by ascrew-thread, as at 20, or other formof attaching mechanism may be used.In Figs. 4 and 6 I show the stem 11 provided with a cross-bar 21, whichbar has its undersurface inclined. The bar may pass through slot 22 in aplate 23, which plate is attached to the bottom of the camera 12 by anysuitable means. The plate 23-has inclined surfaces alongside the slot22, so that a partial turn of the plate will lock it firmly This makes avery speedy and effective means for attaching the camera to the ball andstem. Habitually the ball may remain attached to the camera; butsometimes it is desirable to remove it, so that the camera may have asteady supporting-base.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show the ring 31 as made with lugs 32, which lugsturn down and are attached to a ring 33. The ring 33 has wings 34 cutout of its substance and turned down to form means for attachment of thetripodlegs 35. A socket or cup 36 may also be formed of metal struckdown from or attached to the ring 33.

The whole device may be formed of a metal which is not easily corroded,as brass or nickel. For light structures it may be made of hard rubber;but metal is generally preferable.

Most of the parts can be struck up from metallic plate, so that the costof construction in this way is small.

I am aware that a ball-and-socket construction for similar purposes isold in which the ball is held in socket by set-screw, and perhaps byother means, to secure a like result as to adjustment. 1 therefore claimonly such improvements of my own invention as I have herein specificallyenumerated in the claims.

What I claim is 1. In a support as described, a yoke or basepiece havinga socket for a ball, a horizontal ring rigidly connected to saidbase-piece and having a fixed jaw at one side and a movable jaw at theother side of the ball-socket, a camlever connected to one jaw andacting on the other to close said jaws, and a ball provided with meansforattachment to an instrument, all combined substantially as describedso that the ball may be removed from the socket, or entered between saidjaws, and clamped to hold the instrument in perpendioulan or anyinclined position.

2. In a support as desoribed,ametallic yoke having a ball-socket, ahorizontal ring rigidly connected to said yoke and having its openingover the socket, a fixed jaw at one side of the ring and a movable jawat the other side-of the ring, a ball adapted for removal or to enterbetween the jaws, and means for closing the jaws onto the ball to holdsaid ball and its attachment in any adjusted position, substantially asdescribed.

3. In asocket as-described, the ball-socket rigidly connect-ed toahorizontal ring, a fixed. jaw rigidly connectedto the ring at one sideand a movable jaw pivoted to the ring at the other side, a cam-leverpivoted to one jaw andengaging the other to open or close the movablejaw, and a ball having a stem attachment for an instrument, and adaptedfor removal or for entry into the socket between said jaws, whereby theinstrument may be held in any adjusted position by the clamping-of theball, substantially as described.

4. In a support as described, the socket, theupper ring. having ajawfixed and a jaw pivoted thereto,.and a cam-lever pivoted to one jaw andengaging. the other, said ring having lugs by which itis supported, anda second lower ring connected to said lugs and having wings for legattachment, and. a stemmed ball adapted to enter said socket, alloombinedsubstantially as described.

Intestimony'whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. HALL.

Witnesses:

W. A. BARTLETT, CHAS. K. DAVIES.

